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The Brexit transition period could be extended by another two years, up to December 2022, Michel Barnier has told European ambassadors in Brussels.

EU diplomats told The Daily Telegraph that the Mr Barnier’s extension - which would see the UK still tied to the EU six years after the Brexit vote - would be sensible, but stressed that it would be up to Britain to decide if to request a one-off extension to the transition period, and for how long.

“The UK could theoretically ask for an extension until 2099 but an 80-year extension might upset people a little bit,” said one EU diplomat after the meeting on Sunday morning.

“Yes it is possible but of course it would die in the European Court of Justice,” joked...